Between the Pages

If you're looking for an inexpensive way to keep your child engaged this summer, then the Pottstown Regional Public Library is your one-stop location.

We're a little late in bringing you news of the summer programs at the library.

For the younger set, the library's summer reading program, Dig Into Reading, began last week. It is open for younger children from toddlers to middle school age and there are prizes to be earned, although registration is required.

For a full listing of youth programs, click here.

Performances (for all ages) take place on Wednesday mornings from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. and each other day of the week has special events planned.

• Marvelous Mondays has events at 10:30 a.m. ages 3 and older; 
• Tales on Tuesdays has events for all ages at 6:30 p.m.;
• Thunder Thursdays features events for ages 10 to 17 at 4 p.m.;
• Double Fun Fridays for all ages has events at 10:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.;
• Super Duper Silly Saturdays has events for all ages at 11 a.m.

A Popcorn Slumber Part is scheduled for July 18 at 11 a.m., bring your P.J.s and an appetite.

An appetite would also help on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays when Lunch at the Library offers a free lunch at 12 noon for ages 18 and younger.

And on July 2, July 30 and Aug. 13, the library will hold Brown Bag Book Talks for ages 6-12. Those who sign-up for the event, sponsored by the Soroptimist Club, will receive a free copy of the books and be invited to return with a packed lunch from 12 to 1 p.m.

The books are "The Case of the Green Guinea Pig;" "The Twits", by Roald Dahl and "The Doll in the Garden: A Ghost Story."

An end of summer bash for those who earn their reading certificate by Aug. 1 will be held on Aug. 6 from 5 to 7 p.m.

For teens, several programs are set up along with the reading program, called "Beneath the Surface, and  prizes for participating include McDonald's food, Rita's water ice and even a Kindle Fire.

Open to ages 12 to 19, teens can sign up at the library; Facebook.com/prplibrary or ppl.mclinc.org.

Programs include:

• Monday Night Madness at 6:30 p.m. with silhouette art, life-sized Clue and more;
• Whatever Wednesday at 6 p.m. for ages 12 to 17 with foam rockets, and movie night or winking origami;
• Slammin' Saturdays are at 11 a.m. for ages 10 to 17 on June 29, July 13, July 27 and Aug. 10;
• ill Style and Peace, a hip-hop dance group, will be at the library on July 17 at 10:30 a.m.;
• Kawaii Creatures, for ages 12 to 17, will be held at 6 p.m. on Aug. 13.
• Cave Council: on June 26 and July 10 at 5 p.m., is open for teens ages 12 to 17, where students are invited to offer input on what they want to see in the library.

The teens' "end of summer bash," will be held on Aug. 8 from 2 to 5 p.m.

Click here for a full listing of teen events for the summer.

This seems like as good a place as any to provide some information out of the Pottstown Regional Public Library's annual report, delivered recently to Pottstown Borough Council by library board member Arthur Green.

In 2012, the library had 79,848 cataloged items; had a circulation of 113,531, split almost evenly between adults and children.

It was visited 103,222 times and hosted 499 programs, attended by 9,916 people; answered 23,371 reference questions and saw its computers used 40,411 times.

All of this is accomplished on a budget of $527,397.

Revenue sources are as follows:

• State: $109,422; (21%)
• Pottstown: $163.500 (31%)
• Lower Pottsgrove: $62,125 (12%)
• Upper Pottsgrove: $27,500 (8%)
• West Pottsgrove: $20,000 (4%)
• Fundraising: $71,541 (13%)
• Library generated: $73,308 (14%)

Expenses are straightforward:

• Personnel: $348,559 (72%)
• Collection: $73,151 (15%)
• Other: $130,973 (13%)